Having just passed the AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) examination, I thought it timely to write about the importance of taking the test. If you are wondering why I waited so long to take it, I'll bet you'll recognize my reason. As an administrator, I thought it didn't apply to me. I am not currently practicing "hands-on" nursing and therefore I figured that the credential was not important to my career. Over time, though, I realized the importance of being able to prove my credibilityÑand of being able to demonstrate that I was not only clinically competent in HIV care, but also dedicated to my colleagues and supportive of their practice.

The ACRN exam is managed by the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB), a sister organization to the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC). As a member of ANAC (and as its Interim Executive Director), I believe that it is paramount that we recognize the value of and support the only credential that sets us apart from others. Not only does having ACRN after your name provide evidence of your advanced level of knowledge to your colleagues, but it also assures your patients that you are the BEST nurse for them.

I think about my own hospital experiences. Did I want a nurse certified in Med/Surg? You bet I did! Why? Because I knew that my nurse was practicing above minimum standardsÑthat he or she had gone the extra mile.

Just as you would expect the best care from the most competent nurse, patients with HIV also deserve the best care. When you go to your clinic for treatment, ask your nurse, "Are you an ACRN?" If she's not, then ask, "Why not?" Encourage your caregivers to demonstrate their skills and advanced knowledge by becoming certified as an ACRN.

All of us know that treatment for HIV is changing rapidly. I have often heard nurses comment that passing the ACRN now won't demonstrate their competence in the future as treatments change. But the ACRN has a continuing education requirement that must be met before certification can be renewed. To maintain your certification over time, you must  obtain 70 continuing education credits over the four-year period of certification. Eighty percent of these credits must be related to HIV nursing; the remaining 20% can be in any other topic. By meeting these requirements, you will be able to stay current and keep up with the pace of change and discovery in HIV nursing and health care. (There are also a wide variety of other ways to earn credits, such as journal publication, public service, and precepting. Please see the detailed criteria listed at <www.hancb.org.>)

Membership in ANAC and the ACRN credential go hand in hand. By joining ANAC you will receive the internationally acclaimed Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC). In addition, you will receive a bimonthly newsletter, ANACdotes, and the quarterly newsletter +Nurse. Other benefits include reduced registration for our annual conference (to be held November 7-10 in San Francisco) and reduced registration for the ACRN examination. ANAC has many continuing education opportunities listed on its website and in JANAC. And there are multiple opportunities for awards and grants that can bring you the recognition you deserve for the work that you do every day.

Check out our website today (<www.anacnet.org>) or call for more information. For questions about the ACRN examination check out <www.hancb.org>.

 

 

Adele Webb, PhD, RN, ACRN, FAAN is a past President of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC). Currently, Dr. Webb serves as ANAC's Executive Director.